AL would never ink secret deal with India: Quader

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina`s upcoming India visit would add a `new dimension` to Dhaka-New Delhi bilateral relations, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

"Awami League never struck any clandestine agreement with India in the past and would not do so in future by selling the national interest," he told BSS today.

Quader, also the general secretary of the ruling Awami League, said all pending issues including the much-awaited Teesta water sharing between India and Bangladesh would be settled through discussion in phases.

He said India and Bangladesh share a unique bond and special relationship rooted in a common cultural heritage, shared principles and values and forged by common aspirations and sacrifices of the two peoples.

He categorically said no anti-state agreement would be signed during the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 1996, he said, Bangladesh successfully signed the landmark agreement on the Ganges Water Sharing with India and solved the land boundary problem in 2015 after a long time.

"We have also resolved maritime boundary dispute with our next door neighbor through international arbitration court under the farsighted leadership of Bangabandhu`s daughter," he said

While talking about the current politics, Quader said that AL never underestimates the BNP, an opponent political party. He said all anti-liberation elements have become united with the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

About religious extremists and militancy, the AL general secretary said apparently they (extremists) look inactive due to the government`s crackdown but they are active underground.

Terming extremists and militants as a poisonous tree, Quader said that with the support of the people all pro-liberation forces under the leadership of Awami League-led 14-party combine will have to be united to stamp out these evils from the grassroots.

Quader said the AL is a pro-people organization as the people are the sources of its power. "We have taken a number of political programmes including representatives` meeting across the country to infuse dynamism into the party activities as well as making the party free from conflict and dispute.

Referring to party discipline, the AL general secretary said, "If any leader becomes embarrassing for the party, he or she would be issued a strong warning for rectifying his/her mistake."

Quader said action could not be taken against any party man from the grassroots level to district level without the approval of the party`s central committee, rather the district committee can refer such a case to the central committee for final decision.

The AL general secretary said Bangladesh Awami League would be made the smartest and strongest political party in the country based on information and communication technology to keep pace with the modern world.

On a query about the next general election, Quader said polls would be held like those staged in other democratic countries including USA, UK and India.

The present government will complete its tenure on January 12, 2019, he said adding that it is the constitutional obligation to hold the election within three months before that.

He expressed the hope that the next general election would be held under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in line with the other democratic countries.

During the election, the AL general secretary said, the government would act as a coordinator to help the election commission hold free, fair and credible polls.

Quader said the election commission would determine the role of the administration and law enforcers including the army.

Source: BSS